Fresh blow for Sadiq Khan's ULEZ revolution as figures reveal congestion in London is worse than it was five years ago

Sadiq Khan has been dealt a fresh ULEZ blow, after new figures revealed that congestion in London is worse than it was five years ago. 

Daily average congestion levels in the capital was 45% last year, up from 37% in 2019 when Khan launched the ULEZ scheme, which was designed to lower congestion levels in London. 

TomTom, the location tech company, said it figured out the 'congestion level percentage' by calculating the time a driver sat in traffic on a given journey and comparing it to the time it would take with free-flowing traffic. 

While the Mayor of London has insisted the ULEZ was implemented to improve air quality, as it would force Londoners to buy cleaner vehicles, just a year after it was launched in central London, his office said it 'had already helped reduce traffic in the central zone by approximately 10%.'

Andy Marchant, a traffic expert at TomTom, told the Times green programmes like ULEZ 'remain essential to supporting the UK's ambition to reach net zero by 2050'.

However, he added: 'It should be coupled with long-term action. Our analysis shows that five years on from the introduction of ULEZ, London remains the world's slowest city to drive through. 

'The capital's fuel consumption and CO2 emissions inevitably increased at the same time, with London's petrol vehicles having the highest CO2 impact in 2023, emitting 3.56 tonnes of CO2 per 10,000 miles driven.'

Londoners have long clashed with the Mayor over the increasing role ULEZ plays in their lives. 

Yesterday, a crowd of anti-ULEZ protesters clashed with Metropolitan Police officers in furious scenes after they were prevented from demonstrating outside Sadiq Khan's south London home. 

The activists reacted with fury after officers stopped them from marching close to where the Mayor of London lives. 

The group were protesting Khan's much-hated road charge, which forces motorists whose vehicles are non-compliant with emissions rules to pay £12.50 a day to drive in London.

Khan is facing a backlash from motorists after expanding the ULEZ zone last year to cover all London boroughs, with hundreds of the ULEZ cameras being vandalised by so-called 'Blade Runners'.

Video shows that they were told by Met Police they were 'too close to his house' - prompting an outcry and mockery as the demonstrators accused the officers of an 'abuse of power'.

Footage posted on the social media platform shows police being heckled whilst a female cop orders the protestors to disburse.

In one video, entitled 'It's now illegal to walk down Sadiq Khan's road', a man who appears to be leading the group complains: 'Sadiq Khan said 'I've got no problem with people (being here).' '

The woman officer can be heard telling the crowd: 'As I have already explained to you, the current location where you are is too close to his house. You are not allowed under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001...'

She continues: 'It's well within the legislation otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation.'

When the protestors insist on being allowed to pass, the cop says 'no no' and starts quoting legislation.

A member of the crowd mimics and mocks the officer by saying, 'No no... we make the rules up as we go!', while another pleads: 'Surely you've got to have some common sense here.'

Another person taunts the officers by shouting: 'Check me out, I'm Billy big b****cks! I am above the law. I've got a bit of power.'